Doubletree and singletree



(ModeL) G. L. STORY. DOUBLBTREE AND SINGLET'RBB.

Patented Oct. 11, 1887 UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE L. STORY, OF BLAIRSTOWN, IOlVA.

DOUBLETREE AND SINGLETREE.

SPECIFICATION ."orming part of Letters Patent No. 371,481, dated October 11, 1887.

Application filed February 28, 1887. Serial No. 239,182.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. STORY, of Blairstown, in the county of Benton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Doubletrees and VVhiffletrees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification;

My invention relates to an improvement in double and single trees; and it consists in, first, a doubletree which is made of two separate and distinct pieces and between the ends of which pieces the singletrees are pivoted,the posts which separate the two pieces which form the doubletree at their centers, and the hammer-strap which passes between the posts and strikes against them, so that they act as stops; second, the combination of the singletrees, which are formed of two separate and distinct pieces,the two blocks which are placed between the ends of the two pieces and to which the ends of the traces are to be fastened; third, the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The objects of my invention are to so construct a doubletree that the hammer-strap prevents it from turning beyond a certain point in either direction, and thus enables the stay chains or straps to be dispensed with, to provide the singletree with reversible blocks to which the ends of the traces are to be fastened, to place the singletrees in between the ends of the doubletree insuch a manner that no straps are needed to hold the singletrees in position, and to produce a doubletree by means ofwhich a team can move alarger load with more case than can be done with any of the doubletrees now in use.

Figure lis a front elevation ofa device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa plan View of the same, a portion of the doubletree being broken away at its center. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the blocks which is placed between the ends of thesingletree.

A represents the two parts or pieces out of which the doubletree is formed, and which are connected together at their ends by means of the pivotal bolts B, upon which the single (,WTodel.)

trees turn. These two pieces A are also rigidly secured together at their centers by means ofthe bolt 0, which passes down through them, the strap,and tongue, and these two pieces are kept a regulated distance apart by means of the four posts D, which are placed between them. These posts serve as stops against which the lower end of the strap Gr strikes when the doubletree is turning upon its pivotal bolt 0, and the posts and strap thus act as stops to limit the distance that the doubletree shall turn. By having the strap and the posts regulate the distances the doubletree shall turn all necessity for stay chains or straps for this purpose is entirely done away with. On the under side of the lower piece of the doubletree is placed astringer or brace,I,whicl1 serves to strengthen the doubletree, and which passes under the tongue and through which the center bolt passes. This stringer serves to prevent the doubletrec from tilting over sidewise, and hence the bolt does not get bent or broken off and the strap is prevented from being injured. The ends of the pieces A, which form. the doubletrec, are turned outward, as shown, so that the singletrees can be turned freely around between them. The singletrees L are also formed of two pieces,whieh are held apart at their centers by means of the posts N. In between the ends of these two pieces which form the singletrees are placed the reversible blocks 1, whichare held in position by suitble rivets, and which blocks have an opening through each end and a suitable opening or openings through its central portion between the end holes. The outer ends of the blocks project outward between the turned-out ends of the two parts which form the singletrees, and over these projecting ends the ends of the traces are fastened, and then held in place by suitable spring-catches, Q, as shown. Should the outer end of either of the blocks become injured in any way,it is only necessary to force out the rivets, remove. the blocks, and then reverse their ends, when they are again ready for use.

These singletrees, being placed between the ends of the doubletree,are prevented from turning over and bending the pivotal bolts upon which they turn, or from breaking the side straps, as is always liable to be the case where pieces which form the doubletree, catching upon opposite sides of the doubletree, act as braces to hold it in an upright position,'and thus prevent all strain from being brought to bear upon the pivotal bolt. These singletrees being placed lower down than is usnal,the anilnal can be brought nearer to the load and hencecan draw a heavier load with less work than he can do where the doubletree is constructed in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of'the doubletree formed of two separate and distinct pieces, the singletrec pivoted between the ends of the two parts which form the doubletree, the posts which are placed at the center of the doubletree, and the strap which catches between the posts, substantially as shown. a

2. The combination of the doubletree which is formed of two separate and distinct parts, the singletrees which are pivoted between the ends of the two parts which form the doubletree, the stringer which is applied to the under part of the doubletree, and the pivotal bolt which passesv down through the strap, the doubletree, the tongue, and the stringer, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the singletree formed of two separate and distinct pieces, and the blocks which are placed between their ends and upon which the ends of the traces are fastened, with the doubletree formed of two separate and distinct pieces, the singletrees being pivoted between the ends of the doubletrees, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, GEORGE L. STORY.

Witnesses:

L. H. SANDERSON, CHARLES RATZE'L. 

